Coat hanger dispenser

ABSTRACT

A coat hanger dispenser comprising an elongate rail over which a supply of coat hangers is hooked, an advancing means at one end of the rail intermittently operable to advance a hanger from engagement on and longitudinally outward from said one end of the rail and delivery means extending from the said end of the rail and the advancing means to releasably hold a hanger advanced in a convenient location and disposition for manual engagement. The advancing means is motor driven and is under control of a switch at the delivery means and operated by a hanger engaged with the delivery means.

United States Patent 11 1 Wasil 1 Oct. 2, 1973 1 COAT HANGER DISPENSER Edwin E. Wasil, 7814 State St., Huntington Park, Calif. 90257 [22] Filed: Mar. 13, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 234,216

[76] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 221/195, 222/312 A [51] Int. Cl B6511 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..221/312 A, 191,277,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,930,510 3/1960 Pallissard 221/312 A 2,550,884 5/1951 Tandler et al. 221/13 3,580,378 5/1971 Pedersen 198/25 2,432,749 12/1947 Glassford 221/196 X 1,355,488 10/1920 McKenney 221/9 X Primary ExaminerSamuel F. Coleman Assistant Examiner 1oseph J. Rolla Attorney-George A. Maxwell 57 ABSTRACT A coat hanger dispenser comprising an elongate rail over which a supply of coat hangers is hooked, an ad vancing means at one end of the rail intermittently 0perable to advance a hanger from engagement on and longitudinally outward from said one end of the rail and delivery means extending from the said end of the rail and the advancing means to releasably hold a hanger advanced in a convenient location and disposition for manual engagement.

The advancing means is motor driven and is under control of a switch at the delivery means and operated by a hanger engaged with the delivery means,

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures COAT HANGER DISPENSER This invention has to do with a device for dispensing coat hangers and is more particularly concerned with a device which receives a supply of'coat hangers and automatically presents the hangers, one at a time, for convenient manual engagement and use.

In commercial laundries and dry-cleaning establishments, large numbers of coat and/or pants hangers are used to engage and hold articles of clothing and the like which have been worked upon and for subsequent handling.

The ordinary, standard coat hanger is established of a length of soft, bent wire and is characterized by a looped, garment engaging lower portion having a lower horizontal bar, upwardly and longitudinally inwardly convergent top bars and by a central upwardly projecting and thence downwardly turned upper clothes pole engaging hook portion, which hook portion occurs in a common plane with the lower looped, garment engaging portion.

While the exact form and construction of coat hanger is subject to some variations, they are substantially alike in their basic make-up.

In laundries and the like, where large quantities or supplies of coat hangers must be provided and put to use, the supplies of hangers become interengaged and hooked with each other in such a way or manner that much valuable time is spent and wasted by personnel in separating the hangers, as they are engaged, one at a time, for use. In carrying out the above and common practice, many hangers become bent and damaged by personnel, as they engage, pull and seek to free a hanger from a supply of entangled hangers.

In efforts to overcome the above, the prior art has provided clothes poles in the area of or adjacent to the work stations where the hangers are to be used and engages a supply of hangers on the poles, which hangers can be more conveniently engaged by the users thereof.

While the above practice has proven to be far superior to providing and presenting hangers in a pile or in boxes, for use, it is still not wholly satisfactory and efficient, as the users of the hangers must, as a general rule, reach an excessive distance to engage a hanger, must manually shift the supplies of hangers on the poles as they are consumed and must carefully select and engage but one hanger, each time a hanger is required.

An object and feature of my invention is to provide a means or device with which a supply of hangers .can be easily and conveniently engaged, and which operates to advance one hanger at a time, deliver it to a convenient location formanual engagement by a user and which orients and holds the hangers thus delivered for most convenient manual engagement.

It is an object and feature of my invention to provide an elongate inclined hanger supporting rail down and along which a plurality of hangers engaged in hooked relationship therewith will slidably advance in side by side relationship and to provide dispensing means at the lower end of the rail and operable to intermittently engage and advance the lowermost hanger on the rail and to deliver and present hangers at a holder located at a convenient delivery station.

Another object and feature of my invention is to provide a coat hanger dispenser of the character referred to in which the dispensing means includes an electrically operated hanger engaging and advancing means and a hanger actuated switching means to control the advancing at the delivery station, whereby a coat hanger is advanced by the advancing means to the delivery means each time a hanger is disengaged from the delivery means.

The foregoing and other objects and features of my invention will be fully understood and will become apparent from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and carrying out of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing my invention related to a supporting structure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged isometric view of my invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on FIG. 2;.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 44 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the advancing means that I provide;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line 66 on FIG. 2 and showing details of the delivery means provided;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a slight modification of a portion of my invention;

FIG. 8 is a view showing another form of support rail; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of another form of advancing means.

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6 of the drawings, my coat hanger dispenser includes, basically, an elongate support rail R, mounting means M for the rail, advancing means A at one end of the rail, delivery means D related to the advancing means A and control means at the delivery means D and controlling the advancing means A.

The support rail can be varied widely in form and is shown as being established of a straight length of tube stock in the form of the invention now under consider-' ation.

The rail R is of sufficient diametric extent so that when the curvedly formed, downwardly and laterally opening hook portions 10 of coat hanger H are engaged therewith or thereover, the arcuate surface opposing the inside curvature of the hook portion 10 tends to maintain the hangers on planes at right angles to the axis of the rail.

The rail R is inclined horizontally at a sufficient angle so that the hangers H engaged thereon will normally slide down the rail to the lowermost end 11 thereof.

The mounting means M can vary widely in form and is shown as including a pair of like brackets 12 spaced longitudinally of the rail. Each bracket has a vertical foot 13 with an upper end fixed to the bottom of the rail, a laterally outwardly, upwardly and thence inwardly curved central portion 14 extending from the lower end of the foot 13 and an elongate vertical leg 15 projecting upwardly from the upper inner end of the central portion 14. The brackets 12 can be described and broadly referred to as C-shaped brackets.

The brackets 12 occur on one side of the rail, which will be referred to as its rear side and so the portions 14 thereof open toward the forward side of the rail.

The upper legs of the brackets are preferably perforated to receiving or accommodate suitable means for securing the brackets to a supporting structure.

In the case illustrated, the brackets are suspended from a ceiling structure C by hanger wires W engaged with the legs and with eye bolts or the like engaged in the ceiling structure.

The brackets of the means M are such that they effectively support the rail and do not present an obstruction with which the hooks 10 of the hangers H engaged on the rail might catch on.

It will be apparent that the hangers must be engaged on the rail from the front side thereof with their hook portions opening downwardly and toward the rear side of the rail.

The advancing means A is located at the lower end 11 of the rail R and includes a rotor on a vertical plane on the central axis of the rail and has a normally upwardly opening hook engaging part or portion 21 which normally occurs on or just below the top or uppermost edge of the rail, at said lower end Ill. The means A next includes means N to rotate the rotor 20 to move and advance the hook engaging part upwardly and axially outwardly relative to the lower end of the rail to a position where the hook-engaging part is spaced forward of the lower end of the rail and is disposed substantially downwardly.

The hook engaging part 20 is sufficient in size to engage and carry the hook portion of one hanger hook 10 when it is moved in the manner set forth above, with the result that when it is so moved, it engages the hook of the lowermost hanger engaged on the rail and carries the hanger upwardly and axially forwardly to a position where the hook disengages from the part 20 and is dropped by the rotor.

The drive means N for the rotor 20 is shown as an electric motor. The motor is supported on a bracketlike frame F fixed to the lower or bottom edge of the rail at the lower end thereof and projects downwardly laterally rearwardly and axially outwardly therefrom. The rotor is carried by the drive shaft of the motor, as shown.

The rotor is shown as a disc-shaped part and is arranged with its upper quarter, related to the lower end of the rail, engaged in a notch 22 in the lower end of the rail and with its upper portion projecting above the top of the rail.

The hook engaging part 21 is, of is established by, a simple notch in the outer periphery of the disc-shaped rotor, as clearly shown in the drawing.

With the above structure and relationship of parts, it will be apparent that when the motor N is energized the rotor is moved to engage, advance and release or drop the lowermost hanger on the rail R.

The motor remains energized until the part 211 advances into the notch in the lower end of the rail, it is de-energized and remains ready for recycling.

In practice, and as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the drive means N. for the rotor 20' can involve a slow operating linear motor or buffered solinoid, a rack 23 driven by the motor or solinoid and a drive pinion on the shaft of the rotor and engaged with the rack.

It will be apparent that the means N, by reciprocating motion, will effictively impart the desired hanger advancing motion or movement to the rotor.

The delivery means D related to the means A includes an elongate delivery rod 30 carried by the frame F. The rod 30 is preferably established of a length of tubing, is spaced axially outwardly from the lower end ofthe rail R and is inclined axially outwardly and downwardly relative to the central axis of the rail and so that a hanger H engaged in hooked engagement therewith slides rapidly therealong. The rod 30 has an upper inner end 31 which is notched as at 32 to freely receive the axially outwardly disposed edge of the rotor 20 and has an outer, lower, free end 33.

In practice, the rod can be straight, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the drawings or can be suitably curved, as shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings.

The delivery means D next includes an axially outwardly projecting upwardly opening hanger hook engaging hook-like saddle 35 at the outer lower end of the rod 30 which saddle engages, stops and holds the hook 10 of a hanger H slid down the rod.

The saddle 35 is shown as a simple bent wire or rod structure with parallel sides, a rounded outer tip and inner legs engaged and fixed in the outer open end 33 of the rod.

The delivery means D next includes control means C for the motor N (or N) of the advancing means. The control means E includes a simple on and off switch 40 arranged in the outer end of the rod and connected in the power line L for the motor in series therewith and having an actuating finger 41 projecting axially forwardly from the rod and into the confines of the saddle 35 to be engaged by a hanger hook engaged in the saddle.

When the finger 41 is engaged and urged downwardly by a hanger H, the switch 40 is open and the means A is de-energized. When the hanger is removed the switch 40 closes and the means A advances a hanger into engagement with the means D. As soon as the last advanced hanger engages in the saddle, the means A is again de-energized and stopped.

With the above relationship of parts, it will be apparent that my invention effictively, dependably and conveniently advances hangers, one at a time, to the saddle 35 of the means D so that a hanger is always presented for manual engagement at the saddle.

It will be further apparent that the structure is such that the supply of hangers on the rail R can be arranged out of the way of a related working area and that the saddle of the means D can be arranged at a most convenient location within the working area.

With the tubular rod and rail here provided, the

power line L for the motor and connected with the.

switch 40 can be engaged in and through the tubular parts in a most convenient and safe manner and as clearly illustrated in the drawings. I

In practice, if desired, that rail can be established of olher than tubular stock. For example, a rail R can be established of a pair of elongate, parallel, spaced lengths of strap metal 50 suitably joined by brackets 51 and as illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any modifications and/or variations which may appear to those skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described my invention, I claim:

I. A coat hanger dispenser comprising an elongate longitudinally inclined rail with an upper inner end and a lower outer end and adapted to be engaged by the laterally inwardly and downwardly opening central hook portions of and to slidably support a plurality of coat hangers, advancing means at the lower outer end of the rail operable to intermittently engage the hook portion of the lower and outermost coat hanger on the rail and to advance said hangers forwardly and outwardly relative to the rail, delivery means at and extending forwardly from the advancing means to receive and releasably support a coat hanger advanced by said advancing means for manual engagement and removal and control means carried by the delivery means and con nected with the advancing means to effect operation of the advancing means each time a hanger is manually engaged and removed from supported engagement with said delivery means, said advancing means includes a flat disc-shaped rotor on an axis normal to the axis of the rail and having an upper inner portion with a coat hanger hook engaging part projecting into a notch in the outer end of the rail, electric drive means to rotate the rotor to move the part upwardly forwardly and downwardly relative to the rail and to advance the hanger carried thereby forwardly, said delivery means including a longitudinally outwardly and downwardly inclined rod to slidably engage a hanger advanced by the advancing means, and a saddle on the rod to establish hooked engagement with an advanced hanger, said control means including a switch at the saddle and engaged and operated by a hanger engaged with the saddle.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hanger hook engaging part on the: rotor is defined by a radially outwardly and circumferentially disposed notch in the periphery of the rotor.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rod has a notched inner end in which the longitudinal outer peripheral portion of'the rotor is freely engaged.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the saddle is an upwardly opening hook at the outer free end of the rod, said switch has an operating finger projecting into the confines of the saddle.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hanger hook engaging part on the rotor is defined by a radially outwardly and circumferentially disposed notch in the periphery of the rotor, wherein the saddle is an upwardly opening hook at the outer free end of the rod, said switch has an operating finger projecting into the confines of the saddle.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rod has a notched inner end in which the longitudinal outer peripheral portion of the rotor is freely engaged, wherein the saddle is an upwardly opening hook at the outer free end of the rod, said switch has an operating finger projecting into the confines of the saddle. 

1. A coat hanger dispenser comprising an elongate longitudinally inclined rail with an upper inner end and a lower outer end and adapted to be engaged by the laterally inwardly and downwardly opening central hook portions of and to slidably support a plurality of coat hangers, advancing means at the lower outer end of the rail operable to intermittently engage the hook portion of the lower and outermost coat hanger on the rail and to advance said hangers forwardly and outwardly relative to the rail, delivery means at and extending forwardly from the advancing means to receive and releasably support a coat hanger advanced by said advancing means for manual engagement and removal and control means carried by the delivery means and connected with the advancing means to effect operation of the advancing means each time a hanger is manually engaged and removed from supported engagement with said delivery means, said advancing means includes a flat disc-shaped rotor on an axis normal to the axis of the rail and having an upper inner portion with a coat hanger hook engaging part projecting into a notch in the outer end of the rail, electric drive means to rotate the rotor to move the part upwardly forwardly and downwardly relative to the rail and to advance the hanger carried thereby forwardly, said delivery means including a longitudinally outwardly and downwardly inclined rod to slidably engage a hanger advanced by the advancing means, and a saddle on the rod to establish hooked engagement with an advanced hanger, said control means including a switch at the saddle and engaged and operated by a hanger engaged with the saddle.
 2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hanger hook engaging part on the rotor is defined by a radially outwardly and circumferentiallY disposed notch in the periphery of the rotor.
 3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rod has a notched inner end in which the longitudinal outer peripheral portion of the rotor is freely engaged.
 4. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the saddle is an upwardly opening hook at the outer free end of the rod, said switch has an operating finger projecting into the confines of the saddle.
 5. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the hanger hook engaging part on the rotor is defined by a radially outwardly and circumferentially disposed notch in the periphery of the rotor, wherein the saddle is an upwardly opening hook at the outer free end of the rod, said switch has an operating finger projecting into the confines of the saddle.
 6. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rod has a notched inner end in which the longitudinal outer peripheral portion of the rotor is freely engaged, wherein the saddle is an upwardly opening hook at the outer free end of the rod, said switch has an operating finger projecting into the confines of the saddle. 